NBA Draft: Every team’s least popular pick ever

Cleveland Cavaliers – Anthony Bennett (2013)

There’s absolutely no question that the most unpopular and the worst draft pick in the history of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a relatively contemporary selection. Of course we’re talking about taking Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, a move that was legendarily shocking at the time and somehow even more appalling since then—especially considering where Bennett is now.

Make no mistake, Bennett was regarded as one of the top lottery picks heading into the 2013 draft. However, there wasn’t really any time where pundits or analysts truly believed that Bennett was the No. 1 overall pick. That was obvious with how Bill Simmons reacted on the ESPN broadcast and how everyone everywhere else reacted as well. And while he may have had some promise, taking him in that spot put even more pressure on him to succeed and that only ultimately made him even less popular going forward.

Bennett played only 52 games in his rookie season before being dealt to the Timberwolves in the Kevin Love trade. No matter where he’s been, though, he’s been a disappointment to the maximum degree. Now he’s out of the league and trying to make a comeback at just 23 years old. That’s wild, but only makes him all the less popular of a draft pick.

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